With many full-color photographs, “One Dirty Bowl: Fast Desserts, Faster Cleanup,” is a great composite of desserts that range from the traditional to the specialty. Every recipe is easy to follow and concise. Also, there are many useful baking tips interspersed throughout the book.

While all the desserts listed are easy on the cleanup, some are ultra simple, such as Variety S’mores Bars, and explain how to combine three pre-made treats into a wonderful dessert. Others, such as White Chocolate Pumpkin Bread, reveal how to make a stress-free dessert without using a boxed mix. Almost all the recipes use pre-made frosting, facilitating the dessert creations even more.

Author Christina Dymock goes beyond mere recipes and explains many baking secrets, such as how to make moist homemade chocolate cakes (mayonnaise!), as well as easy ways to dress up desserts for parties.

Dymock is a University of Utah graduate. The mother of four lives with her family in central Utah.

Paper Bag Cookies

The paper bag technique can be used for coating any number of desserts: powdered sugar donuts, chocolate crinkle cookies, and, of course, these wonderful cinnamon-sugar cookies.

Makes: 24

2 tablespoons cinnamon

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided

9 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup butter, room temperature

2 eggs

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Pour the cinnamon and ½ cup of sugar into a paper lunch sack. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons of sugar and the salt. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until set.

While the cookies are still warm, place 3-4 cookies in the paper sack. Fold the top over and shake gently to coat the cookies with the cinnamon and sugar. Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool. Repeat with all cookies.

Elizabeth Reid has bachelor's degrees in economics and history. She has worked in retail, medical billing, catering, education and business fields. Her favorite occupation is that of wife and mother. She blogs at gelatoandchocolate.blogspot.com.